Shoe-lace holder.



N. M. DE LANY, SHOE LAGE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1913.

Patented Mar. 24, 19m

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WITNESSES NELLIE 1VI. DE LANY, 0F CLYDE, NEW YORK.

SI-IOEFLAOE HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 1, 1913.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914. Serial No. 758,202.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NELLIE M. DE LANY, citizen of the United States, residing at Clyde, in the county of Wayne and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lace Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

his invention relates to a shoe lacing device and has for its object the production of a simple and eflicient button means for securing the laces upon the shoe without the necessity of tying the same.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and eflicient but-ton which will eflioiently hold the shoe lace in such a manner asto prevent the lace from becoming accidentally detached from the shoe button.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shoe showing the-series'of buttons applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a central transverse section through the base of the button showing the head of the button in elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the base and headof the button be fore the same is attached to the shoe. Fig. 4- is a detail perspective of the securing base for the button- Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section of a modified form of the invention wherein the head of the button is of the bent oval shape provided with a clamping ridge upon its lower edge. Fig. 6 is a section through the button illustrated in Fig. 5 and taken at right angles thereto. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective of the head of the buttonillustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that 1 designates the shoe which is provided with the usual parallel rows of buttons 2 upon which is laced the lacing 3 for holding the upper of the shoe closely around the foot. Lace engaging fasteners 4 are carried near the top of the upper of the shoe and above the upper ends of the rows of buttons 2 so as to firmly hold the shoe lace 3 against being detached from the shoe.

Each of the buttons 2 comprises a base plate 5 which is preferably circular in form having downwardly projecting tapering outer. edge of the engage the shoe lace 3 to firmly clamp lace upon the head portion 10 of the button.

prongs 6 which are provided with inwardly bent ends 7. hese prongs are forced through the upper of the shoe and then bent back to constitute a clamp substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2, the inwardly bent ends firmly gripping the upper or shoe for firmly holding the base of the button upon the upper. These prongs 6 are bent inwardly so as to prevent the same from being accidentally bent away from the shoe as would be the case if the prongs were bent outwardly and in such a manner would not be protected by the circular body of the base section 5. The base 5. is provided with a plurality of upwardly struck knob portions 9 which are formed adjacent or near the body 5 and are adapted'to the The head portion 10 of the button is preferably concave-convex as illustrated clearly in Fig. 3 and is provided with a downwardly extending centrally arranged shank portion 11 which is provided with a reduced neck 12 fitting through the aperture '13 formed in the base 5. A washer 14- is placed upon the shank 11 and normally engages the shoulder portion 15 formed upon the shank l1 and constitutes means for limiting the inward movement of the head 10 upon the base 5. This shank portion 11 is preferably formed hollow so as to allow the lower end of the shank to be flattened over to con stitute a ring portion 16 whereby the head may be firmly held in engagement with the upper or shoe. It will be seen that by having the upwardly struck portions 9 formed upon the base 5, the upwardly struck portions will force the shoe laces up under the concavo-convex head 10 and thereby assist in holding the lace in engagement with the buttons 2. In this manner the lace will be firmly gripped by the buttons and will not have a tendency to be accidentally detached from the buttons.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have shown an em bodiment of the invention wherein the head portion 17 is provided with a shank 18 of similar construction to that as illustrated in Fig. 3, and this shank 18 is providedwith a reduced neck 19 and is also provided with a shoulder 20 against which rests the washer 21. The washer 21 also rests upon the upwardly struck portions 9 of the base 5 and 18 upon the base. The shank is secured to 7 comprising a base provided with a section and is provided with a downwardly the upper of the shoe in like manner to that as illustrated in Fig. 2. The head'17 is preferably formed concavo-convex in cross struck-up portions adapted to force a shoe lace up under said head for holding the lace in frictional engagement therewith.

2. A shoe button of the class described comprising a base provided with a plurality of prongs adapted to engage a support for holding said base in engagement with said support, said base provided with a plurality of upwardly struck portions, a head provided with a downwardly extending shank, said shank provided with a reduced portion at its lower end, a washer positioned upon said reduced portion, a shoulder formed intermediate the ends of said shank and engaging said washer, said washer engaging the sides of said struck-up portions and limiting the downward movement of said head upon said base, said head comprising a concavo-conveX body, said head provided with extending flange 22 upon its periphery which is bent back to constitute a smooth lower edge 28 to constitute an eflicient gripping means for the shoe lace. The sides of the flanges 22 are provided with notched portions 2 which notched portions are preferably formed above the struck-up portions 9 of the base 5 to allow the shoe lace to pass up under the head and also to be removed from the button when it is so desired. The upwardly struck portions 9 are also adapted to force the shoe lace upwardly and hold the same under the concavo-convex head to constitute an eificient friction grip for the lace.

Having thus described the invention,

what is claimed as new, 1s: a flange around its edge, said head being 1. A'shoe button of the class described substantially elliptical in shape, said flange plurality of prongs adapted to engage a support for holding said base in engagement with said support, said base provided-with a plurality of upwardly struck portions, a head provided with a downwardly extending shank, said shank provided with a reduced portion at its lower end, a washer positioned upon said reduced portion, a shoulder formed intermediate the ends of said shank and engaging said washer,'said washer engaging ,the' sides of said struck-up portions and limiting the downward movement of said head upon said base, said head comprising a concavo-convex body, and said portion provided with an upturned edge for producing a smooth shoe lace engaging portion along its lower edge, and said flange provided intermediate its ends upon each side of said head with a notched portion for facilitating the entrance of a. shoe lace under said head and also for facilitating the removal of a shoe lace from under said head. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELLIE M. DE LANY.

Witnesses:

BELLE ZIMMERMAN, ALBERT H. BROWN.

fiopies *of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

